Abstract
Abstract. To implement the protocol contrasting the diffusion of Covid-19, the employer is required, to ensure the safety and health of the worker at work, to adopt measures related to the control of body temperature (with respect for privacy), the minimum distance during work and all other activities such as breaks, canteen breaks, access to toilets, in addition to the adoption of specifically developed safety procedures, such as e.g. the use of man-down detection devices. In this context, the project aims to illustrate a system able of providing support in the safeguarding of workers' health on construction sites. This system, based on information received from sensors capable of identifying workers' positions (e.g., if less than 1m away) and their vital parameters (e.g., body temperature, gasped breathing), as well as moving objects inside the construction site area (e.g., to check if a worker is passing under a moving crane), will raise early alerts directly to the workers and/or to the central software, with respect for privacy, to immediately activate all the necessary measures to mitigate the risk. The system, based on the data communicated by the various sensors, will store and process them for the purpose of extracting useful information for risk management. The proposed system configured itself as a new product taking advantage from a high Technology Readiness Level maturated from the Smart Safety Belt already developed by some of the authors.
Highlights
Following the worldwide health emergency due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it is fundamental to use technological systems in order to use smart means in reducing the infection
The product will allow for each worker to monitor the interpersonal distance, body temperature, heart rate, oxygenation, and in perspective the detection of PPE worn, the position on the construction site and falling
The device will be tested on a first construction site relating to the post-earthquake reconstruction of 2009 located in the Municipality of Fossa in the province of L'Aquila (Italy), together with other sensor systems for monitoring safety under construction
Summary
Following the worldwide health emergency due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it is fundamental to use technological systems in order to use smart means in reducing the infection. This becomes even more important in the phase of rising infection, which will see restrictions imposed again in all areas of work For this reason, a lightweight device was designed to be worn and falling into the category of "wearable technology", a solution with interactive products capable of communicating with portable devices such as smartphones and tablets and wearable items such as smartwatches, allowing great advantages in terms of safety, potentially being configured as life-saving tools for the operator in case of emergency or ensuring his protection in the case of a pandemic (Fig. 1). Antwi-Afari et al [6] focus attention on insole, in order to analyze the performance of workers for reasons related to safety on site while Kim and Ho [7] on relationship between wearable technologies and privacy This latest study analyzes the social aspects related to these issues, highlighting how facilitating social interaction among users and keeping personal information securely are keys to success in the dissemination of these devices. The research project "CoFlex" (a flexible bracelet anti covid-19 to protect construction workers)
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